General Education Program Requirements for the Associate in Arts Degree (36 Credits)
The general education program at Valencia is an integral part of the A.A. degree program and is designed to contribute to the student’s educational growth by providing a basic liberal arts education. A student who completes the general education program should have achieved the following outcomes:
Cultural and Historical Understanding: Demonstrate understanding of the diverse traditions of the world, and an individual’s place in it.
Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning: Use processes, procedures, data, or evidence to solve problems and make effective decisions.
Communication Skills: Engage in effective interpersonal, oral and written communication.
Ethical Responsibility: Demonstrate awareness of personal responsibility in one’s civic, social and academic life.
Information Literacy: Locate, evaluate and effectively use information from diverse sources.
Critical Thinking: Effectively analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and apply information and ideas from diverse sources and disciplines.
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The Gordon Rule
State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.030, the Gordon Rule, requires that students complete with grades of C or better 12 credits in designated courses in which the student is required to demonstrate college-level writing skills through multiple assignments and six credits of mathematics course work at the level of college algebra or higher. These courses must be completed successfully (grades of C or better) prior to the receipt of an A.A. degree and prior to entry into the upper division of a Florida public university.
For graduation with the Associate in Arts degree from Valencia, the Gordon Rule requirements can be satisfied by completing either the writing and mathematics requirements listed below or the Interdisciplinary Studies Program and the Mathematics requirements. Students who have not earned an Associate in Arts degree must complete the Gordon Rule requirement prior to being admitted to a Bachelor degree program. The link below outlines the Gordon Rule requirements are Valencia.
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Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement
Valencia’s college-level foreign language proficiency requirement can be satisfied in one of the following ways:
- You may complete two credits (two years) of high school instruction in one language other than English with a passing grade each year as documented on your official high school transcript.
- You may successfully complete one of the following sequences in a single foreign language with a letter grade of “C” or better:
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- You may satisfy this requirement by successfully completing foreign language course work at the Elementary II college level with a minimum grade of "C."
- Demonstration of proficiency by passing a CLEP (College Level Examination Program) foreign language test or a foreign language proficiency test administered by the University of Central Florida. Students who earn college-level foreign language credits through course work or CLEP may apply these credits toward the 24 Elective credits.
- If your native language is a language other than English, you may satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement by successful completion of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course requirement(s) and successful completion of the Area I Communications requirements for the Associate in Arts degree.
- Demonstrated college-level proficiency in American Sign Language (either through completion of eight semester credits or successful completion of ASL 2150) can be used to fulfill this requirement at Valencia.
- Demonstration of proficiency by passing Advanced Placement test with a score of 4 or higher.
- American Sign Language cannot be used to fulfill the foreign language graduation requirement at many universities. Students are responsible for verifying acceptability at the institution to which they plan to transfer.
Note: Satisfaction of this graduation requirement for Valencia may also satisfy the foreign language admission requirement for Florida public universities; it may or may not satisfy a specific university graduation requirement. Students are encouraged to find out the specific requirements of institutions in which they are interested.
